www.oberammergau.dewww.altoetting.de

Altoetting andOberammergau

In the footsteps of the Bavarian King Ludwig II

Bavaria’s Religious Centres

In 2011, the whole of Bavaria is paying hom- age to King Ludwig II of Bavaria who died under mysterious circumstances 125 years ago. Also, the Religious Centres, the Marian

pilgrimage town of Altoetting and the Passion Play village of Oberammergau, are commemo- rating His Majesty.

King Ludwig II was a steadfast supporter of religion and a faithful believer in God. He al- ways visited the parish church of Oberammer- gau or nearby Ettal Monastery, when he arri- ved from his administrative duties in Munich and after having seen the Oberammergau Passion Play, he was so touched that he gifted a huge marble sculpture to the townsfolk.Altoetting, the most important Marian shrine in Germany, is located in Bavaria and has always played a vital role in the religious life of the Bavarian dukes and kings. Since the 17th century, the Bavarian sovereigns, among them also King Ludwig II, have had their hearts buried in silver urns inside the octa- gonal chamber of the Altoetting Chapel.A scenic self-drive tour in the footsteps of King Ludwig II offers the best overview of the most famous sights in Southern Bavaria. From Munich with the Royal Residence, Nym- phenburg Palace and other historical sights, at least 3 days should be planned for an in- dividual tour.

Oberammergau, the first stop, is located only one hour south of Munich and has been tradi- tionally dominated by old Bavarian churches and monastic culture. In the Ammergau Alps – the region around Oberammergau – King Ludwig II built the world-renowned Neu- schwanstein Castle. Another architectural

visitors insight into the magical, fairy-tale world in which Bavaria’s most famous king lived.The route of the second day from Oberam-mergau to Lake Herrenchiemsee skirts the Bavarian Alps and offers breathtaking views.

Suggestions for a self-drive tour in Southern Bavaria

Tips for planning your visit:Boat trip from/to Prien-Stock – approx. 20 minutes one wayFootpath/Carriage ride to the Royal Palace – approx. 20/15 minutes one wayGuided tour of the Royal Palace – approx. 25 minutesVisit of the Bavarian State Exhibition – approx. 60 - 90 minutes

Bavarian State Exhibition “Twilight of the Gods – King Ludwig II”housed at the Herrenchiemsee New PalaceMay 14th - Oct. 16th 2011, daily 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.Combination ticket (New Palace with entrance to the state exhibition, King Ludwig II Museum, museum and galleries in the Augustinian Monastery)Adults 9,50 $ (reduction 8,50 $)Children aged 6 - 18 years 1,00 $Children under 6 years free of chargeFurther information and guided tours: www.hdbg.de

Commemoration of the 125th anniversaryof the death of King Ludwig II

masterpiece, Linderhof Palace, also located in the Ammergau Alps region, is the smallest of the three castles he constructed and the only one of his castles he actually ever lived in. During the 125th anniversary of his pas- sing, special guided tours in English will offer

The Bavarian State Exhibition “Twilight of the Gods - King Ludwig II”, is housed at the New Palace on Herrenchiemsee Island from May 14th to October 16th 2011. The life of Ludwig II is shown in an impressive way: how he became king, was forced to wage war, was compelled to obey the dictates of a German emperor, reigned as a fairytale king during the industrial age, and ultimately became a myth.The third day is devoted to Altoetting, the “Heart of Bavaria” as Pope Benedict XVI cal- led it. A pilgrimage day usually starts with a visit to the Black Madonna and the heart-shaped silver urns in the Chapel of Grace. The candlelight procession taking place on Saturday evenings from May to October is an impressive conclusion of your day. Really worth a visit are the numerous churches and world-famous sights located just around the Chapel Square which is surrounded by state- ly baroque buildings.

The world-famous Passion Play village nest- les in the alluring mountainous region of the Ammergau Alps and captivates its visitors with a harmonious symbiosis of nature and culture. Well-groomed hiking paths along the river Ammer lead to pristine flower-filled mea- dows and unspoiled woodlands. Mountain cable cars and lifts carry guests up into the Ammergau Alps in both summer and winter. Mountain paths, from an easy walk to a gui- ded climbing tour, complete the programme.

and Ettal Monastery. Outings to the nearby royal palaces, to churches and monasteries and a stroll through the village with its mural paintings on the houses as well as a visit to the Oberammergau Museum and the Passion Play Theatre are very special experiences. For over 350 years the Passion Plays have spread

the name of Oberammergau throughout the world. But the art of woodcarving has been at home in the village for much longer. This craft sets the tone of life in Oberammergau to this day. Learn for yourself the art of car- ving in one of our numerous courses. Or fol- low in the footsteps of King Ludwig II. The guided tour "Dream World of King Ludwig II" takes you into the exotic worlds of the fairy- tale king. King Ludwig II loved to withdraw into the Alpine seclusion of Linderhof Palace. Here he lived his dream of the perfect king- dom and turned into architecture his flights of fantasy to the world of Richard Wagner, the mysterious Orient or to the France of the Sun King. In Ettal, Unterammergau and Oberammergau the fairytale king has left behind other testimonies: follow his valet to the original sites – be surprised by facts and secrets which are not to be found in any travel guide. This package can be booked for four persons or more with 1 night in B&B. In "My Passion" you go with Helga Stucken-berger, a woodcarver and actress who played the role of Mary Magdalene in the Passion Plays in 1984, 1990 and 2000, on a very per-

sonal journey of discovery through Oberam-mergau. Besides many stories about the townscape, the murals on the walls of the houses and about the Passion Play, you will also be made familiar with the Living Studio, the House of Pontius Pilate, the Oberammer- gau Museum and the Passion Play Theatre.

The highlight of the roughly three-hour guided tour is a short appearance by Helga Stuckenberger on the stage of the Passion

Ammergauer Alpen

Special offer:Cultural-Weekend

“Discovering Oberammergau” 2 nights with breakfast

from 99,00 $ p.p.

The Ammergau Alps Meditation Trail, built in 2009, invites you to unwind, slow down your mind and switch off the humdrum of daily life. On a total distance of 85 kilome-ters, the trail leads hikers alongside reflective stations and special places of power, from the famous Church in the Meadows to Lin- derhof Palace. 15 stations invite you to con- template and stimulate your mind, among them the “Scheibum” a picturesque rock passage along the Ammer river, the Hoernle mountain which offers beautiful panoramic views, the mystic moor around Bad Kohlgrub, the Passion Play Theatre in Oberammergau

Play Theatre. This programme module can be booked for 15 persons or more. For groups of pilgrims or those interested in the his-tory of art there is a 4-day programme on "Churches, Cloisters and Culture": In addition to the royal palaces of Linderhof and Neu- schwanstein, the programme also includes other important churches and monasteries in Steingaden, Rottenbuch, Wessobrunn and Peissenberg. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the rococo jewel, the "Wieskirche" (Pilgri- mage Church of the Scourged Saviour), a UNESCO World Heritage site. The package can be booked for groups of 30 persons or more.

Oberammergauand the Ammergau Alps

Events in 2011 – celebrating the 125th anniversary of the death of King Ludwig II.

Special exhibitions at Linderhof PalaceWhere is Ludwig II?” – Exhibition at the Oberammergau Museumvintage car round trip in the Ammer Valley commemorating King Ludwig II.market with handicrafts at the Pilatushaus in Oberammergaumountain fires on the evening before King Ludwig’s birthday serenade in the park of Linderhof Palace

“June – October 2011 1st April - 8th January 201229th - 31st July 2011

6th - 7th August 201124th August 2011 25th August 2011

For over 1250 years Altoetting has been the spiritual centre of Bavaria and for over 500 years the location of the most important shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary in German-speaking countries. The destination of the more than 1 million pilgrims and vi-sitors is the "Black Mother of God" in the

octagon chamber of the Chapel of Mercy, probably built as early as about 700.

As a custom, going back as far as the 17th century, the hearts of the Bavarian Dukes, Kings and Electors are stored in richly deco- rated silver urns opposite the ornamental altar with the Black Madonna of Altoetting. Due to this tradition, which was followed

Pilgrimage to Altoetting

until the early 20th century, a sign of the deep and loyal ties between the Bavarian rulers and their national shrine, as well as the great number of pilgrims coming for generations from all over the country, Alt- oetting was given the nickname “Heart of Bavaria”.

AltöttingHerz Bayerns

Special offer:“Altoetting Pilgrimage Weekend”

2 nights with breakfastfrom 58,00 $ p.p.

From May to October the great pilgrimages, solemn masses and, always on Saturday eve- nings, candlelight processions take place. The highlights of the pilgrimage year are the "Mary Month" of May, the three day Pente- cost weekend with the arrival of a large num- ber of pilgrims on foot, the great Corpus Christi Procession and the feast of the As- sumption on 15th August with an evocative candlelight procession on the preceding day. An outstanding event in 2006 was the visit of Pope Benedict XVI on 11th September with the solemn celebration of mass on the Chapel Square. Sights of special interest for the art-lover are the late gothic collegiate church with its cloisters, celebrating its 500th anniversary in 2011 as well as the 1200m2 monumental circular painting "Jerusalem Panorama the Crucifixion of Christ" from the year 1903. The museum “House Pope Benedict XVI – new Treasury with Pilgrimage museum” ac- commodates not only the famous “Golden Horse", but also the bridal wreath of the Austrian Empress “Sissi”.

In the course of a great and solemn funeral procession starting in the Bavarian capital Munich, the sumptuous urn, made of gilded silver, with the heart of the famous fairy tale king Ludwig II was brought to Altoet-ting on august 16th 1886 to its last resting place.

Events in AltoettingGuided city tour “In the footsteps of Emperors, Kings and Popes”for groups of max. 35 participants, 51,00 $ per group upon request at the tourist officeMay to October 2011, every Saturday evening: 8.00 p.m.8.00 p.m.

19th June 2011: Presentation of the heart-shaped urn of King Ludwig II at the altar of the Chapel of Grace:15th August 2011:16th August 2011:

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Evening mass, followed by a candlelight procession* possibility of a theological visit to the Chapel of Grace with view to the heart-shaped urns of the Bavarian sovereigns* *Sept./Oct. 7.00 p.m.

Traditional pilgrimage of the King Ludwig II association “Die Königstreuen”

Assumption of Mary125th anniversary of the transfer of the heart of Ludwig II to Altoetting

Salzburg

MUNICH Altoetting

Oberammergau

Bad Tölz Miesbach

Landsberg

Schongau

ChiemseeStarnbergerSee

Ammersee

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

LinderhofPalace

Herren-chiemsee

New Palace

PilgrimageTown

BurghausenCastle

Birthplaceof Pope

Benedict XVI

Marktl

Neuschwanstein Palace

Sight

Church in the Meadow (Wieskirche)

Rottenbuch Monastery

Ettal Monastery

A95

B 2

B 23

B17

B17

B13

LINDAU

STUTTGART

NUERNBERG

INNSBRUCKINNSBRUCK

(Brenner)

VIENNA

VILLACHMeditationTrail

Circular tour “Bavaria’s Religious

Centres“

Circular tour “Bavaria’s Religious

Centres“

Circular tour “Bavaria’s Religious Centres“

Benedict Trail

Benedict Trail

…and this is how you find your way there:

Additional links:

Incoming Partners:

Further information on Oberammergau is available from…

www.oberammergau.dewww.brennendes-herz.dewww.passionstheater.de

Ammergauer Alpen GmbHEugen-Papst-Straße 9aD-82487 OberammergauTel. +49 (0) 88 22 / 9 2274-0Fax +49 (0) 88 22 / 9 2274-5Email: info@ammergauer-alpen.deInternet: www.ammergauer-alpen.de

www.appina-travel.comwww.watzinger.dewww.beer-bus.de

www.benediktweg.infowww.shrines-of-europe.comwww.inn-salzach.com

www.appina-travel.comwww.watzinger.dewww.beer-bus.de

Further information on Altoetting is available from…

Wallfahrts- und Verkehrsbüro (Pilgrimage and Tourist Office)Kapellplatz 2a . D-84503 AltöttingTel. +49 (0) 8671/50 62 -19 oder -38 Fax +49 (0) 8671/8 58 58Email: touristinfo@altoetting.deInternet: www.altoetting.de

from AltoettingKilometres to from Oberammergau

0Altoetting 189

40Chiemsee (lake) 126

184Garmisch-Partenkirchen 20

Innsbruck / airport 198 / 208 78 / 77

Munich / airport 90 / 84 94 / 137

189Oberammergau 0

86Rosenheim 108

Salzburg / airport 64 / 65 179 / 183

315Vienna 475

GERMANY

BAVARIA

Munich

InnsbruckSalzburg

Vienna

Prague

AltoettingOberammergau

Stuttgart

Frankfurt

Cologne

Hannover

Hamburg

Berlin

Dresden

Photos: © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung www.schloesser.bayern.de,

© Digitalbild: Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte/Augsburg,

© Grafikbüro Wilhelm, © Oberammergau Tourismus, Ammergauer Alpen GmbH, Dorfner/Liebfrauenbote, dpa, fotolia.com, Heiner Heine, Brigitte Maria Mayer, Passionsspiele Oberammergau 2010, Florian Wagner, Jean Wimmerlin, Wallfahrts- und Verkehrsbüro AltöttingLayout: Hermann HanfstinglTranslation: Geoffrey P. BurwellPrint: Gebr. Geiselberger GmbH

As far as their landscape, tourist attrac-tions and religious appeal are concerned they could hardly be more diverse. And yet the Marian pilgrimage town of Altoetting and the Passion Play village of Oberammer- gau are the best known religious centres in Bavaria world-wide.

Altoetting is situated in the flat, but char- ming, river landscape of the Alpine foothills between the rivers Inn and Salzach, not far from lake Chiemsee, equidistant from Munich, Salzburg and Passau. That is why this roughly 1250 year-old place of pilgri- mage is also called "the heart of Bavaria". This is additionally reinforced by the fact that in the Chapel of Mercy the Wittels-bachs’ urns are kept, containing the hearts of the Bavarian dukes, prince-electors and kings. Each year hundreds of thousands of people make their way by train, bus and on foot to Altoetting the most important shrine dedicated to the virgin Mary in the German- speaking countries. At the sacred place of the "Black Madonna", dyed by the candle smoke of the pilgrims, they bring their per- sonal cares or also their gratitude for her intercession and the help they have recei- ved. From May to October, therefore, innu- merable festive solemn masses and candle- light processions take place in Altoetting.

As a contrast of landscape to Altoetting, so to speak, Oberammergau lies in the heart of the Bavarian, or more precisely the Am- mergau, Alps. Historically the region is also familiar to many as "Pfaffenwinkel" (the Priests' Corner), as old Bavarian ecclesias-tical and monastic culture has characterised the Ammergau Alps since time immemorial. Here we only have to mention famous churches such as the Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour, the "Wies Church" (Meadow Church), a UNESCO World Heri- tage site, and famous monasteries such as Ettal or Rottenbuch. The world-famous fairy-tale palaces of Linderhof and Neu- schwanstein, known throughout the world, are situated in the Ammergau Alps – not a coincidence, as the loneliness of the moun-

tains offered Ludwig II an ideal retreat from everyday politics. Since their vow taken in the time of the plague in 1633, the people of Oberammergau have taken part in the "play of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ" every ten years since 1634. Many of the wood carvers' subjects as well

as the crosses on the mountain peaks also testify to the Christian faith of the inhabi- tants. The Passion Play and the various re- ligious and historical views in connection with Jesus' trial as well as the figures, roles and content of the traditional suffering and death of Christ have left their mark on the village and its inhabitants in the course of over 350 years. To be able to perform the largest and most famous Passion Play worldwide on the stage of the Passion Play Theatre every decade the artistic aptitude in theatre language, singing and orchestral music has to be constantly practised and presented as does the treatment of relig- ious themes of the time on the stage.

This is also reflected in the theatrical pro- ductions in the "Ammergau House" or in the "Little Theatre", in religious and classi- cal concerts and, of course, in the great open-air events in the Passion Play Theatre.As in Oberammergau with the Passion Play, in Altoetting many old Bavarian and relig- ious customs mingle with the veneration of the Virgin Mary. That ranges from church and rural celebrations and their traditions of the monasteries to the cultivation of local costumes, folk music and regional

gastronomy. Both religious centres boast many art treasures and culture. In Altoet-ting these include the Treasure House with the valuable Golden Horse, the precisely reproduced Jerusalem panorama and the Mechanical Crib – an Oberammergau work from the year 1928.

As in Altoetting, in the Oberammergau Mu-seum and in the Pilatus House historical and current art exhibitions can be regularly seen, and in the Passion Play Theatre rea- listic examples of costumes, stage scenery and props from the story of Christ's Passion are on display. In the Ammergau Alps every- one can go on holiday without any religious connections and improve their health - with attractive health cures, for example in Bad Kohlgrub and Bad Bayersoien, with hiking in the mountains and the valleys, cycling trips, cross-country skiing, Alpine winter sports and a small but excellent fa- mily-oriented programme.

In Marian Altoetting the time before Christ-mas is especially celebrated with its Christ-mas Market and Advent singing, but also the memory of its highest-ranking pilgrim: from Altoetting via nearby Marktl, the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI, the Bene- dict Route, takes cyclists over 248 kilomet-res to several towns in Joseph Ratzinger's childhood and youth. In their different characters both religious centres have one thing in common: namely, that in Christian Bavaria body and soul belong together and here the baroque joie de vivre stems from the Christian belief in redemption and re- surrection. Hannes Burger

Bavaria's Religious Centres